In this modern, fast-pacing era where courtship is just one text away or chats rather, does #WorththeWait still exists, I mean, the genuine one?

I was in college, almost about to graduate, when I experienced courtship the way Christian does. And I may say it was totally diverse from the conventional way I know.

This is how I experienced it. But before I proceed, I want to reiterate that this is how “I”, personally experienced it and does not concluding or asserting that this should be the standard manner of doing it.

It was primarily initiated by the guy to ask someone to be his prayer covenant partner.

Prayer covenant means you’re going to set a specific time and when the clock ticks in that time, you’re going to pray regardless on where you are.

What are you going to pray for?  Simple, very simple - God’s will. That’s it! You are not going to pray that he/she hopefully falls in love with you and that he/she will began to realize how awesome you are.

But prior to that, of course, it is important that your parents know it all. You also need to ask permission from your Pastor(s). Well, for us, it so happen that we are on the same church. But for some, please do ask permission on both sides.

While on the process, these are some reminders from our mentors:

• No terms of endearment
• No sweet texts, chats or in any forms of communication
• You only meet once a month and will only converse about your prayer and devotion updates.

I hope from this point, you did not get me wrong. This is not putting guidelines just like a strict parent rules does. Looking on it, it’s actually normal. In the same way if someone is courting a woman, we don’t express any sweet words or actions not unless we want to show motives or intention of liking that person. Difficulty in obeying only happens once you have mutual feelings for each other. 

From then on, we were guided by our Pastor and some of our mentors who teach us how the process really matters and why waiting is vital before binding yourself into a relationship.
It was then I realized that being in a relationship does not happen because you have mutual feelings and you simply wanted to express that feeling.

It was thru our mentors that I began to understand that being in a relationship signifies that you are willing to spend the rest of your life with that person which is also affiliated of your readiness in all aspects: physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. 

Allowing prayer covenant does not giving any assurance or does not convey the idea that you also like the person and that you are giving him a glimpse of any chance. It is not equivalent of saying yes when someone asks if they can court you.

The idea of #WorththeWait only matters when waiting is really happening.

It is completely different from the usual, but it is indeed #WorththeWait.

P.S

Please guys never ever ask to your parents for bucks when you want a date.

If you can’t buy chocolates, flowers, bears and alike - just use your creativity. We do appreciate efforts more than material things that you can effortlessly acquire almost anywhere. It is definitely a BIG NO! 

I love playing guitar and keyboard. Both of these instruments have its own beauty and melody.

As I’m browsing at youtube to listen on some music I love, I saw one of the Christian bands playing this type of musical instrument that looks like keyboard yet easy to carry like guitar.

Isn’t amazing how technology now a day’s works in almost ways we cannot imagine?

Out of curiosity in mind, I try to browse more and was able to saw this keytar for sale

To give you more about this product, here's an overview from Korg USA Authorized Internet dealer:

Appearing in 1984, the RK-100 remote keyboard broke the chains of keyboardists, setting them free to perform as they liked. With a stylish body available in four colors, it allowed the keyboard player to challenge the vocalist or guitarist for the main role on stage.

Now, thirty years later, the RK has been resurrected. Although beautiful curved surfaces have been added, the essence of the original and very popular design is unchanged. What had been a somewhat large and heavy body has been made more compact and lightweight thanks to modern components such as a slim keyboard. While the original required an external sound module, the new RK-100S contains a built-in analog modeling sound generator.

New features and functions include two ribbon controllers, an arpeggiator, and a vocoder, and there are also "favorite" buttons that allow you to register frequently-used sounds for one-touch selection. The RK-100S is your choice for smarter, more active, and more enjoyable performance.

Two hundred built-in programs powered by analog modeling
The RK-100S provides a built-in sound engine that was not found on the original RK, meaning that you can perform simply by connecting an audio cable.

Its MMT sound engine provides not only the standard analog synthesizer waveforms such as sawtooth and square, but also additional oscillator algorithms such as formant waveforms, noise, and PCM, which power two hundred programs for a broad range of sounds that will cover any musical genre. These sounds can also be played using the arpeggiator.

37-note slim keyboard that's lightweight and easy to play
The keyboard of the RK-100S uses the 37-note slim keyboard also featured on the MS-20 mini. This allows the overall unit to be more compact and lightweight. MS-20 mini-style keys provide the perfect balance between size and playability.

Two ribbon controllers, short and longSince the RK-100S is designed for active playing styles, it features two ribbon controllers: a short ribbon on the neck that can be manipulated with the left hand, and a long ribbon located in front of the keyboard that gives you a wide range of performance possibilities. The long ribbon controller can be used instead of the keyboard to play a freely specified range of pitches and scales, and can also be used to control the pitch or filter in dramatic ways.

Operates on six AA alkaline batteries
Since the RK-100S will operate on easily obtainable alkaline AA batteries or rechargeable nickel-metal hydride AA batteries, you can enjoy performing anywhere simply by plugging in a set of headphones or by connecting it to your amp with a standard cable. By using an AC adapter, you can play at home for as long as you like without being concerned with battery life, and use the PC editor to create your own sounds.

Mic/audio (dual-purpose) input jack, also usable with the vocoder function
The RK-100S provides a monaural mini-input jack that can also work with mic input. You can use a headset mic to enjoy vocoder performance, or connect your audio player and perform along with your favorite music.

Perform with an external sound module, and use the PC editor for detailed editing
Since the RK-100S is equipped with a MIDI output jack, it can be used to control an external sound module. There's also a USB port for connecting it to your computer, allowing you to control a PC sound module or use the PC editor to edit detailed MIDI settings and parameters of the internal sound engine.

Features:

• Built-in sound engine, just plug in and play
• 37-note slim keyboard
• 200 built-in programs with analog modeling
• 2 ribbon controllers, short and long
• Mic/audio input jack, also usable with the vocoder function
• Perform with an external sound module, and use the PC editor for detailed editing
• Operates on 6 AA batteries

I heard this instrument is really something you would really love to consider. What you think?

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

I have realized that as a music lover and musician, it comes naturally to your feet to lead you in music stores. It has been my daily routine whenever I go to mall to peep through on stores related to musical instruments. 

One of the guitars that caught my attention is the danelectro u2.

The Danelectro guitar that started a tone craze now features upgraded '56 lipsticks and adjustable saddle bridge. The sound of the 56 U2 is distinctive of with its lipstick pickups and wiring. Construction materials used by Danelectro in this period feature a poplar wood frame with Masonite used for the top and back, with the side of the body bound with vinyl. 

Here are some of its features:

• 56 U2 model
• '56 lipstick pickups
• Adjustable saddle bridge
• Vintage recreation
• Made in Korea
• Black finish

Some reviews of this guitar says, “It is so easy to play and light weight, it almost seems like a toy.” 

I haven't try it yet, but I would definitely consider this in the near future.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

Music has been my passion and so learning musical instruments soon tailed on it. My first love started on an acoustic turtle back guitar as I have mentioned on my previous post, It All Started with a String.

Being able to teach some aspiring (please don’t expect too much, I only teaches basic because that’s what I only got as well.. haha) handling almost all major instruments except violin, I might say that the easiest musical instruments I get along to teach is the bass guitar. Well at least on a basic manner for a startup. Some people would say that bass guitar is easy to start but difficult to master; Well I believe that all musical instruments have its own difficulties and technicalities especially if you want to be skillful and if you want to master it.

Bass guitar can start from 4 up to 6 strings though I’ve seen some who goes up to 12 strings. Experts on it have different commentaries and remarks as to what is far better number of strings to use. Some of my friends I know believe that the number of strings would still depend as to what would be the genre of the music. But most of my friends uses 5 strings bass guitar. If you’re considering it as well, you may try traben bass guitar. I’ve heard remarkable reviews about this brand.

All musicians I know considered bass including drums as the back bone of any great music band. Bass guitar produces the massive tone of the music. It also dictates the mood and emotions of the songs especially when the musician learns and masters the groove of bass guitar.

Beyond doubt, all musical instruments have its own strengths, allocations and specifications.  What’s easier among it and among us would still depend on our preferences and taste.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

I believe I am a certified music lover (self-proclaimed haha :) ) as I have said on my previous blog (you can check it here: I am a Lover and I'm Proud of it). On this blog I have mentioned I am part of our worship leaders/song leaders’ team.

Did I ever utter my passion for musical instruments?  Well I guess not, so mind me to talk about it here.

My love for musical instruments all started with a gaze of a sexy woody body with gold and silver threads; and you’ve got it right – my first love for musical instrument is none other than guitar. 

I began with an acoustic turtle back guitar for beginner when I was 14 years old. I ask some questions and guides with some experts I know but on minimal coaching. And so my ultimate aid in understanding its chords is based on the chords chart alone. It’s even harder for me because I have a little tiny fingers to reach out frets; with this I’ve learned the value of “no pain, no gain” motto. :D

I started to appreciate the thick callus I obtained on persistently pressing on its strings. And after tons of patience and endurance (it’s a hyperbolic terms of course) finally, I was able to befriend with my guitar soundly.

Today, being a part of a music ministry gives me an access to embrace different kinds of guitar brands but looking forward to hold a prs singlecut in the future. It also gives me an opportunity to learn some of the other musical instruments with the help of some members of the gang who do it for free and I am totally loving it beyond. 

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

For more than a decade of serving God thru worship ministry, it became a doorway for me to be a God’s witness of His wonders. On the other hand, we all know we're not in this world to merely experience a life full of bliss and delight. As a leader, the greatest heartbreak is to see others' downfall. 

Their downfalls occurred from different facets. As I keep an eye on them, I saw them slowly losing their desire to attend our praise and worship practice even on our Sunday worship service. We even came to a point that only 3 members of our team are attending our practice. 

My initial reaction is, “How am I going to resolve and help them?” With that in mind, I decided to make several solutions that I think would help them to restore their hearts and passions. But after a prolonged work and endeavor, it ends up rubbish. I felt worn out because I had given it all and yet nothing happened. And so I give up. On the contrary, after giving up, I’ve learned a valuable lesson. And that is really to simply – GIVE UP, not just naively give up but to give it all up to God and let Him do the rest.

When to give up?

I believe giving up to God should be live out every single day of our lives. It is really vital that we lend every little details, decisions and aspects of our lives so we can live through a life full of joy. But don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean a life without problems and struggles. This only implies that regardless of what we’re going through, there’s an inner joy at all times. That would take place only if our lives are connected and relying to God, believing that in the midst of everything, Someone is sustaining and working for us beyond what we can imagine.

How to give up?

1. Surrender your heart to God.

2. Turn in prayer.

3. Give up your sins.

I thought God is instilling them something they need to understand but then I realized I myself was also part of that understanding God is about to unfold. 
Giving up means relying on God and allowing Him to do his perfect wills and plans. It's about letting God to ultimately do everything, not half-done but entirely. 

Right when we thought we’re losing the battle, God is there to lift us up and says, “Let us fight together.” 

I had been into my greatest heartbreak as a leader but on the counterpart, the greatest fulfillment is to be a witness on how our merciful and gracious God restores them.

Surrendering to God is never losing. It is declaring the triumphant and victorious battle He’s about to conquest.

Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins – Job. 11:13-15 (CEV)

How to be confidently humble sounds ironic as it seems. But what I really love about God is how he uncovers His teaching contrary to what the standard of this world utters. God uses the word meek as a form of humility before Him. But what does meek really signifies? 

According to God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle by Russel M. Stendal,

“Praüs, the Greek word translated “meek” is a very interesting word. 
The ancient Greeks used this word to describe their war horses, among other things. 
The horse was perfectly trained, ready for battle, and would go into the battle and trample enemies’ underfoot. 
It would participate in the war with the rider; this was called a meek horse. 
The word meek and praüs are not identical; the translators did the best they could, but the Greek word carries a different range of meaning from ours.

I’ll tell you why Greeks called their horses praüs, or meek. 
When the horse got to the level of training where it would obey the master (the rider) no matter what was going on, it could be trusted in the heat of battle not to do something stupid of foolish. 
Once the rider knew that he could trust the animal, and it would obey him no matter what he called it a meek horse even though it might be a powerful, thoroughbred stallion, capable of killing enemies in the battle.

This horse has tremendous power, capacity, and ability, but it has given up its own way and is allowing itself to be guided and ordered by the master. 
That is what the praüs means; it means submission to the master. 
It doesn’t mean submission to just anybody. 
A meek person in the biblical sense of the world is not someone who allows just anybody to tell them what to do. 
It is not someone who allows everyone to trample over the top of them and just goes with the flow. 
It is all of our gifts and abilities, everything that God has put into us, under His control and submitted to Him so that even in the worst crisis imaginable, we’re not going to take the bit in our teeth and bolt on our own way. 
We will continue to go His way under intense, pressure, persecution, danger, or need. 
This is what it means to be meek.”

If we learn to submit our lives before God, what shall we gain by then?

1. He will answer our prayers and heal our sins. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
2. His plans will be revealed. (Psalm 25:8-9)
3. He will give us a heart that can love one another. (Eph. 4:2)
4. He will pour out His grace and make the most out of our potentials. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
5. He will lift us up as we bow down before Him. (James 4:10)

True confidence only comes to those who humble themselves before God; who allows God to take control and who acknowledge that they are nothing if not for God.

We can be confidently humble for he who promised is faithful (Hebrew 10:23, NIV).

If you were able to read my About Kish portion in this blog, I've mentioned that by the grace of God, I'm part of our music ministry as a worship leader or for some as a song leader to our team namely Pleiades music ministry (to know more about our team, please check: Why PMM?)

When I was starting, I thought a good voice is enough and the major thing I need to be a so-called worship leader (well, please don't expect much on my voice, read more to know what makes us qualified..haha..) Going back, as I yield more about it, I have learned that the most important thing God requires for us not only on the ministry I am with right now but as we serve Him, it is none other than our hearts; A heart that can only love beyond if we will submit it before Him. A heart that is meek. (To know more about a deeper meaning of meek, please check at How to be confidently humble?)

It is not the quality and tone of our voice, neither the skills nor the talents that we have or we can offer but mainly, God is concern on the tone of our hearts before Him. All things are created by God and created for Him, there’s nothing we can claim and boast off.

God cannot maximize our potentials without surrendering our entire lives to Him. That requires the totality of all the aspects, all day, every day, twenty-four / seven (24/7), time after time, every single minute, every single second.

If you wanted to know if I am a lover, I would gladly declare, yes! After all I’ve been through and might come pass through, I’m not just a music lover but I am a lover of God's Word, I am a lover of the ministry God bestows upon me and I'm glad that I have Jesus as the lover of my soul, who holds and loves us beyond what we can imagine.

Have you heard about Mr. and Mrs. Right, knight in shining armor, prince charming and alike?

We’re all dreaming of it, right? Well I bet we have our own version of it; a checklists perhaps which perfectly matches our wants. Summarizing the definition of it reveals one common denominator, the word “Ideal”. Ideal means the best, role model, perfect.

However there are risks if we keep on longing to find that so-called perfect match for us. Read more to know why.

1. It doesn’t exist.

Yes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really exist. Somehow it does, but only in fairy tales not in real life. We need to understand that no man was ever made perfect, literally no one. People regardless how good they are can still commit mistakes; People regardless how powerful and wealthy they are can still possess limitations.

2. It gives you disappointment.

Disappointment is the feeling of dissatisfaction because of non-fulfillment of what we expect or hope for. Knowing that a perfect love doesn’t exist therefore will only cause disappointment, if we keep on looking and believing on it. We can never mark all the boxes in our checklist, that’s for sure. We can never find that person even if we travel all over the world. It might just lead to frustration if we keep on hoping for.

3. It loses the opportunity of perceiving the perfect plans for you.

The concept of having an ideal steers us to be single-minded. It obscures other perspective and view. Permitting it to be the spotlight of our lives thus might hinder us on determining brighter and better plans for us. 

Looking on the ideas above ironically let me answer this question: Can we still find that perfect love for us? And the answer is yes, if we accept that:

1. It exists.

Yes, you’ve read it right. It exists but not in this world per se. We need to recognize that it is only founded by God. Accepting this truth will help us endure to love one another despite of their mistakes and limitations.

2. We are all imperfect.

Accepting the fact that everyone has limitations including ourselves can untie us from all our disappointments and frustrations. Many times we feel unfortunate because we thought it was not given to us though we believe there’s nothing wrong of what we’re dreaming of. Yes, we are imperfect but God has its own astounding way to turn our imperfection perfect for someone He designed for us.  

3. Go to the author of love.

Do you want to find that ideal love? Then go to the author of love – God. We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:9, NIV). His love knows no boundaries. His love hopes for nothing but the best for you and me. Believe that God has a greater plans for you as he says on Jeremiah 29:11(NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Remember that God has its own way of giving it according to his perfect timing. Stop believing in yourself and start trusting on God’s unconditional and perfect love for you. 

That ideal and perfect love is found in the arms of Our Loving Father, Jesus Christ. He loves you that much, so much that He bears and offers His life for you.